The Swift Current Broncos have added size and depth to their blue line by acquiring 17-year-old Brett Lernout from the Saskatoon Blades for a 4th round 2013 WHL Bantam Draft pick.

Lernout is pointless in 15 games with the Blades so far this season. He registered an even plus/minus and 15 penalty minutes over that span.

“He’s a young, right-handed shot who fits the identity and style of our hockey team well,” said Broncos General Manager and Head Coach Mark Lamb. “We have seen strong improvements in his game and are excited to have him join us.”

Lernout was first listed and called up to the Blades for 2 games last season. He scored 35 points in 44 games with the Midget AAA Winnipeg Wild.

The Winnipeg product was also a teammate of Broncos forward Denis Bosc when he played 6 games with Steinbach in the MJHL last season. He was also teammates with Brent Benson earlier this season before the Broncos traded Graeme Craig to Saskatoon to acquire Benson.

Lamb has been looking for another defencemen since trading Craig left them with only six.

“We like where our prospects are right now,” Lamb said. “We like them playing, getting lots of ice time, we don’t want to bring them here in a limited role… so we wanted to look elsewhere and bring someone in.”

Lernout will join the Broncos in Kamloops as they start their BC Division road trip against the Blazers on Tuesday. He won’t play as the coaching staff wants to give him at least a day to get used to his new team.

You can hear the game between Swift Current and Kamloops with The New Pioneer Co-op Home Centre Broncos Hockey at 8:30pm on Tuesday night.